Nigerian women have stormed the National Assembly to protest the rejected bill meant to create ‘special seats‘ for women.
Various women groups on Wednesday occupied the gate chanting songs of solidarity, and armed with different placards.
They demand that the lawmakers reconsider the requests for 111 seats for women, equal citizenship, 35% representation in party leadership, more appointive positions in government, and vote in favour of these amendments.
The women were reportedly mobilised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), Federation of Muslim Women Association (FOMWA), Women Organisation for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN), Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA), Women In Business (WIMBIZ), Action Aid, Yiaga Africa, the Islamic Youth League, among others.
The protest comes less than 24 hours after the bill seeking to provide special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly failed.
The Bill titled ‘Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seat for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for Related Matters,’ failed after most of the lawmakers voted against it.
The lawmakers during the plenary on Tuesday voted on 68 Constitution Amendment bills.
The bill for special seats for women was defeated in the Senate with 58 votes out of 91 while in the House of Representatives 208 out of 290 lawmakers voted against it.
